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Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has responded to racist backlash over her casting in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey.
Nyong’o will star as both Helen of Troy, the woman whose splendour sparked the Trojan War, and her sister Clytemnestra – in an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya.
Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem will hit theatres on 17 July and is one of the most anticipated releases of the summer.
But reports of Nyong’o’s casting in January sparked fury on social media, with some users arguing that a Black actress could not possibly play the most beautiful woman in the world.
Asked about the backlash in a new interview with Elle Magazine, Nyong’o waved off the criticism.
“This is a mythological story,” she said. “I’m very supportive of Chris’s intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world. I’m not spending my time thinking of a defense. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.”
The actress appeared on the cover of the latest issue of Elle dedicated to the “Women of The Odyssey.”
“It’s quite something to be a part of The Odyssey, because it is so grand,” Nyong’o then added. “It spans worlds. So that’s why the cast is what it is. We’re occupying the epic narrative of our time.”
Among the people angry at her casting was Elon Musk, who claimed that “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity,” in response to an X post emphasising Helen of Troy’s supposed “fair skinned, blonde” appearance.
The tech billionaire has since doubled down on its attacks against the director, accusing Nolan of “pissing on Homer’s grave” and “desecrating” the ancient writer.
As Elle released a new look of Lupita Nyong’o as Clytemnestra this Friday, one user wrote: “The Odyssey just keeps getting worse bro if this lady is Greek then I’m the president of Nigeria.”
“Chris Nolan is an anti-White racist,” Musk responded.
Christopher Nolan defended his decision in Elle, saying Nyong’o was his first choice to play Helen of Troy.
“The strength and the poise were so important to the character of Helen. And Lupita makes it look effortless,” he said.
In recent days, American actor Alec Baldwin also responded to Musk by posting a picture of the 12 Years A Slave star on Instagram with the caption: “Dear Elon… but she IS the most beautiful woman in the world…Alec.”
Lupita Nyong’o is just the latest Black performer to receive racist abuse for playing a fictional character that audiences widely perceived as white – even when the story takes place in a magical or mythical world.
Earlier this year, English actor Paapa Essiedu spoke out about receiving racist death threats after he was announced as Professor Snape in the new HBO Harry Potter series.
In 2022, then-13-year-old Leah Jeffries received online harassment over her casting as demigoddess Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV show.